From House To Home

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At Big Sandy near Ashland, there is a house for which the architect drew her inspiration from crop rows, fences, windbreaks, and her father-in-law’s affinity for straight lines.

The result was a modern beach house that pays homage to the barn vernacular, says Lindsey Bahe, the architect who works part-time at Lincoln’s Studio 951. She also is an assistant professor of interior design in the college of architecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“When my in-laws first took me to the site…the repetitive nature of the lines in the cornfield across the water and the horizon were so dominant,“ says Lindsey. “I drew the lines right through the home. The vertical lines became the structure and the horizontal windows are in homage to the horizon.“

This play between inside and outside lines is just one way design connects both spaces. Another is the way that material on the outside wall is repeated on the inside plane.

Yet another is the cedar canopy covering the front walkway. It continues through the entry of the home and out again to the rear entrance, allowing the entry to go from sky to human scale to sky. Cedar planks also travel the same course, but along the ground. The entire walkway will age naturally, adding character.

This concept matches Lindsey’s in-laws’ plans for using the property. In the short-term, Ritch and Raette Bahe will use it as their weekend retreat. Someday they might retire here.

The home goes left or right at the entry. To the right is the master suite that includes “the nest,“ a loft space serving as Ritch’s home office.

The main living space is to the left. No walls separate the public living areas. Polished concrete floors conceal a radiant heat system used to reduce energy consumption. Area rugs soften and define “rooms.“

“We chose modular furniture for the living room because you can take the pieces apart for different parties or get-togethers,“ says Lindsey.

A bio-fiber, wheat board was used to make the dining-room table. Pendant lights hover above it. Windows fill left and right and extend from concrete floor to the highest rafter.

“We knew a lot of activity was going to take place on the deck and in the back of the house,“ says Ritch.

“The windows let those inside feel part of it all,“ he adds.

Lindsey calls the kitchen a support space. She used black tile backsplashes and stainless steel countertops for a different look and feel. The countertops still look new, but like the other materials will patina, aging well.

A bright-green wall marks the end of the public space and the beginning of the staircase. Structural issues forced Lindsey to change its surface from stone to paint.

A bright-green wall marks the end of the public space and the beginning of the staircase.

“This happened while I was on a trip,“ says Ritch. “At first I didn’t like it because it was so bold and so bright, but it grew on me. I really like it now.

“It picks up the greens outside, especially those in the summertime.“

Lindsey chose materials that would tolerate the sand and water’s wear and tear. Maple plywood is the second level’s flooring. Stainless steel screws hold them in place so “individual pieces can be replaced if necessary,“ she says.

Completely open, the second-story walkway leads to additional bedrooms and an atrium. Exposed support beams and rafters create patterns with and without natural light.

The atrium is a sitting area and a pass-through to a roof deck. Perforated steel stairs become the art object. Light filters through creating more patterns on the floor.

The deck and atrium offer spectacular views. Ritch says he plans to get a telescope for exploring the night sky. As the weather warms, he will watch boaters as they use the channel immediately behind the house. He will also continue to enjoy the surroundings and nature’s sounds.

“It’s all very pleasing to look at and very calming and serene,“ says Ritch. “We’re far enough from home…that thoughts of work and other issues drift away out here.“

That’s what a retreat house should do. The fact that Lindsey designed it for them enhances its charm for the Bahes.

“It carries Lindsey’s thumbprint,“ says Ritch. “That is really special to us and makes it even more a part of our family.“